As “Inside the NBA” host Ernie Johnson put it toward the end of “NBA Tipoff” before the game, “I mean, everybody is here.” The list starts with longtime Knicks fans in their customary spots, including director Spike Lee (wearing a Pope Leo Knicks jersey); Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor; Timothee Chalamet; Mariska Hargitay, who was joined by “Law & Order: SVU” co-star Chris Meloni; Tracy Morgan; Fat Joe; Chris Rock; and Jon Stewart. Other sports and entertainment sightings: Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin; Jay-Z; N.Y. sports legends Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, Alex Rodriguez, and Henrik Lundqvist; Benny and Josh Safdie; Tina Fey; DJ Khaled; Jason Sudekis; Jason Bateman; Jadakiss; Jets owner Woody Johnson; Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Jon Hamm; CBS host Gayle King; tennis legend John McEnroe; musicians Cardi B, Warren Hayes, Maggie Rogers, Sheck Wes, Albert Rogers, Robert Randolph, Ezra Koenig, Teyanna Taylor, Benny Blanco and John Lampley; St. John’s coach Rick Pitino; fashion designer Georginia Chapman; Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody; “The Sopranos” actor Michael Imperioli; comedians Pete Davidson, Dave Chapelle, Chris DeStefano, Sal Vulcano, and Andre Schultz; actors Larry David, Paul Wesley, Jamie Alexander, Jacob Batalon, Ben Ehlers, Callie Hernandez, Chris Abbott; John Ortiz, Emma Roberts, Dylan O’Brien, Cooper Hoffman, Taylor Felton, Skyler Astin and Elvis Nolasco; Mets SS Francisco Lindor and OF Juan Soto; former Mets P John Franco and 3B Todd Zeile; directors Greta Gerwig and Noah Bambach; N.Y. Rangers’ Jonathan Quick, Adam Fox, and Vincent Trochek; . Former Knicks players: Bill Bradley, Richie Guerin, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Larry Johnson, JR Smith, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Al Harrington, Gerald Wilkins, Baron Davis, Tim Thomas, Charles Smith, Jeremy Lin, Spencer Haywood, Iman Shumpert and Raymond Felton. President Trump, N.Y. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other dignitaries were also at the game.
ABC broadcaster Mike Breen might have best summed up the atmosphere before tipoff: “I’ve been calling games in this arena for 34 years, and the pregame electricity is like none I’ve ever felt. It’s off the charts.”
Among the more interesting seating assignments was the row next to the Spurs’ bench with former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, TKO President / COO Mark Shapiro, Larry David, Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav, Kraft and TKO and WME CEO Ari Emanuel (SBJ).
